Necticut



H. M. BROADWELL.

QUICK BREAK SWITCH. APPLICATION men AUG.2Z. 1913.

1,3 1 4,302. Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHET l.

281, g (IBM-nu, J

1 ,3 1 4,302. Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. E 3.515. I

H. M. BRUADWELL.

QUICK BREAK SWITCH. APPLICAHON HLED numzz ma.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI CE.

HARRY M. BROADWELL; OF PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO TRUMBULLELECTRIC MFG. CO., OF PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CON-.NECTICUT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be. it known that I, HARRY M. BiioAiiwnLL, a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, residing at P ainville, Connecticut, have invented anew and useful Quick-Break Switch, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to nick break switches and particularly to tioseof the movable switch element is connected with the o crating membertherefor by means of helical switch-throwing springs and these springsare disposed on an incline between the movable switch element and theoperating member in such a way as to enable the use-of longer andtherefore more powerful and efl'ective springs than could be the ease ifsuch springs were directly connected straight across the shortestdistance between the operating members and movable switch elemeI'it.-='a The invention also embodies a novel -construction of bracket forming apositive lost motion connection between the operating member and movableswitch element and serving also as the anchorage for the throwingsprings.

In the accompanying drawings I have disclosed tin invention-embodied inone of its raetical commercial forms, this with the idea however, thatthe form may be varied in different respects without de arture from thetrue spirit and scope of t e invention.

In said drawings: Figure 1, is across sectional view of a double-throwswitch having the features of my invention incorporated therein, the

switch being shown in the intermediate or neutral position.

Fig. 2, is a similar view with the switch in circuit-closed conditionand the operat Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 22, 1918. Serial No. 250,911.

ing member shown in the act of shifting the movable switch element tothe open-circuit position. Y

Figs. 3 and l are broken sectional views' of theswitcli as viewed fromthe right in Fi s. 1 and 2. r t p w 'n the illustration the movableswitch elcment is shown in the form of :1 blade 5 ivoted at 3 and havingoppositely eaten ingarms 7 and S ada'ptedfor engagement with theoppositely disposed contact clips 9 and 10 respectively, said partsbeing mounted on a suitable insulating base 11., 4

The switch operating member consists in the illustration, of an arm 1'2over-standing the crossbar 13 which connects the switch bladessubstantially parallel thereto, said arm having an angularly bent endportion 14 engaging with the hub 15 of the pivoted switch operatinghandle 16.

The quick break mechanism comprises a pair of coiled or helical springs17 arranged on diyei'gent angles and connected between the movableswitch element and the over-standing operating arm 12. These springs areshown connected at their outer ends with dependent lugs or tang -18struck downward from the metal of the operating arm, and at theirinner'cnds with lugs 19 struck upward from the opposite side edges ofbrackets 20 secured by the screws 21 to the cross bar 13. I

The inclined disposition of these springs between the cross bar and theSllbSlZtllh tially parallel over-lying operating arm enables the use oflonger and hence more resilient and powerful springs than could be thecase if such springs were connected directly or straight across theshortest distance between the cross bar and the overstanding operatingarm. This rovides a powerful switch-throwing niec unis-in in compactform.

The bracket 'to which the throwing s rings are anchored-is formed withoppositel disposed oiitwardly projecting arms, or a utments 22,extending to opposite sides of the operating arm 12. Thesearins form apositive lost motion connection between the operating arm and movableswitch elements as will be apparent particularly from Fi s. 1 and 2.

in Fig. 1, with the operating arm in tho interiiiodinte or neutralposition, the switch is yieldingly held by the springs in anintermediate inactive position. When it is desired to engage the switchblades 8 with the contacts 10, the o ierating arm 12, which, as shown,is pivote substantially concentric to the movable switch blades, isrocked in a right-handed direction, the engagement of the operating arm12 with the upstanding -arm 22 of the bracket rovidin a positiveconnection b which he switci blades can be forced rmly intoengagement'with the respective contacts. To break the circuit, thehandle is operated to shift the operating arm 12 in a left-handeddirction, which. carries the same into engagement with the lip-standingarm 22.dis-

posed to the left of the same. A positive connection is now affordedwhereby the movable switch blades can be positively drawn from enagcment with contacts 10. As the switch 1) ades are on the point ofleaving said contacts, the helical springs which have been placed undertension during this movement (see Fig. 2), react and sna the bladesquickly from enga ement witi the contacts, the lost motion tween theoperatin arm and the bracket arms allowing for t llS snap movement.

n the case of a large or heavy switch, such as a three bladed switch, apluralit of pairs of switch-throwing springs witi their accompanyingbrackets may be provided, substantially as is indicated in ligs. 3 and4.

My invention provides, it will be seen, a simple and reliable quickbreak mechanism and one which may be readily applied to switchconstructions now in use.

1. In a quick break switch, the combination with a. movable switchelement and a switch operating arm pivoted in substantially concentricrelation, of a pair of helical switch throwin springs each connected atone end with said switch operatin arm and each connected at the oppositeen with the movable switch element arm and movable switch member andboth inclined with respect to the arm and the movable switch element tooccupy a smaller space between the operating arm and switch elementwhereby to enable the use of the springs of greater length than theshortest distance between the operating arm and movable switch member.

2. In a quick break switch, substantially parallel switch blades, across bar connecting the free ends of the same, a switch operating armoverlying said cross bar a bracket secured to said cross bar anrelatively inclined helical switch-throwing sprin extending from saidbracket to the switc operating arm.

3. In a. quick break switch, substantially parallel switch blades, :1cross bar connectmg the free ends of the same, a switch operating armoverlying said cross bar, a bracket secured to said cross bar, spacedupstanding arms carried by said bracket and disposed at opposite sidesof the operating arm and relatively inclined helical switch-throwingsprings extending from said bracket to the switch operating arm.

4. In a quick break switch, substantially parallel pivoted switchblades, a cross bar connecting the free ends of said-switch blades, :1pivoted operating member having an arm over-standing and substantiallyparallel to said cross bar, a bracket secured on said cross bar havingseparated upstanding arms extending into position at opposite sides ofthe over-standing o erating arm and provided with anchorage ugs atopposite edges thereof and helical switch-throwing springs engaged withsaid anchorage lugs and connected with the over-standing opcrating arm,said springs being inclined relative to the cross bar and o crating armto enable the use of springs onger than the shortest distance betweenthe cross bar and operating arm.

HARRY M; BROADWELL.

